The overall purpose of this unit is to demonstrate to students the role volcanoes play in shaping Earth's landscape and the effects volcanoes have on human life. This unit is composed of many hands-on activities which help students to model volcanic eruptions and visualize the effects of these eruptions. The unit opens with a lesson that demonstrates what is happening inside the earth to create volcanoes. The next few lessons allow students to investigate different kinds of rocks and the different minerals that they are composed of. The investigation of rocks helps students learn about the rock cycle, which is a cycle that is moved along by volcanic processes. In the lessons following the rock cycle, the students will learn about volcanic ash and the effects it has on human life and weather when it falls. After this, students will learn about the different types of volcanoes and how each type of volcano helps to change Earth's landscape. Finally, the last lesson of the unit gives students the opportunity to apply volcanoes to real life by discussing the Hawaiian volcanoes and the myths that were created by natives to help explain them.
To try and keep the lessons in this unit interesting and relevant to students, I have used a variety of teaching strategies. Some of these strategies include using literacy, inquiry, and technology in the classroom. Some of the literacy strategies that I have included are reading for content and creative writing. Some of the technology strategies I have included are using web animations and movie clips in class discussions and student use of the school computer lab for research. Finally, I have included some inquiry activities which allow students the opportunity to investigate different unit concepts, just as real scientists investigate out in the field.
Purpose of Volcano Unit:
The overall purpose of this unit is to demonstrate to students the role volcanoes play in shaping Earth's landscape and the effects volcanoes have on human life. This unit is composed of many hands-on activities which help students to model volcanic eruptions and visualize the effects of these eruptions. The unit opens with a lesson that demonstrates what is happening inside the earth to create volcanoes. The next few lessons allow students to investigate different kinds of rocks and the different minerals that they are composed of. The investigation of rocks helps students learn about the rock cycle, which is a cycle that is moved along by volcanic processes. In the lessons following the rock cycle, the students will learn about volcanic ash and the effects it has on human life and weather when it falls. After this, students will learn about the different types of volcanoes and how each type of volcano helps to change Earth's landscape. Finally, the last lesson of the unit gives students the opportunity to apply volcanoes to real life by discussing the Hawaiian volcanoes and the myths that were created by natives to help explain them.
To try and keep the lessons in this unit interesting and relevant to students, I have used a variety of teaching strategies. Some of these strategies include using literacy, inquiry, and technology in the classroom. Some of the literacy strategies that I have included are reading for content and creative writing. Some of the technology strategies I have included are using web animations and movie clips in class discussions and student use of the school computer lab for research. Finally, I have included some inquiry activities which allow students the opportunity to investigate different unit concepts, just as real scientists investigate out in the field.